Starbound (8 page)

I took a seat in front of my vanity, digging out makeup I had reserved for just this night. While the other girls in my circle went for the darker approach, I had always gone in the opposite direction. We would tease each other mercifully, but it had all been in fun and games then.

Lining my eyes with a white glittery shadow, I took time with the application, and when I finished, my face sparkled with a celestial glow. Tossing on a white cardigan, I grabbed my keys from my nightstand and took a deep breath.

Here went nothing.

“Mom!” I called as I skipped down the stairs. “I’m going out.”

“Okay, Katia. No need to yell.” She was at the bottom of the stairs passing out a giant bowl of Halloween candy—the good stuff. It was kind of a family joke that Mom dressed up as a ghastly witch every year. The best part was it looked amazingly real. A few twists of her nose and she suddenly had long grey hair, warts, and the sickest green skin I’d ever seen on a human. And Mom could cackle with the best of them.

When Collins and I were little, Mom used to chase us around the house. We loved every second of it.

I snuck a piece of chocolate from the bowl and got my hand smacked. “Don’t get into any trouble,” she said and then gave me an eerie laugh.

I grinned, unwrapping the candy as I strolled out the front door, leaving Mom to the little goblins and princesses. My Jetta purred to life as I backed down the driveway, careful of the little kiddos. The streets were lined with parents, some in costume, some not. Mine had always been the ones decked out in full gear. There were wagons piled with toddlers in them, candy wrappers tossed in the grass, and the spooky sounds of chains rattling, ghostly moans, and chainsaws.

Parking my car at the edge of the road, I took a breath. This was it. There was still time to change my mind and possibly save myself the humiliation of being rejected. It would be pretty sad being told off by a band of misfits.

I had come this far, no point in turning back now. I wasn’t a coward. Every bone in my body told me that this was the only way I was going to fill that void inside me, the one I had been searching blindly the last few years to satisfy—unsuccessfully I might add.

After adding a quick coat of lip gloss, I got out of the car and began to trudge up the hill that led to the woods. I could walk this hike blindfolded. It was second nature to me. Being back here was like a blast to the past. With each step I took, my heart accelerated, whether it was because I would soon see Seth or because of the circle, I could not say. Regardless, my palms had started to sweat, and a streak of nerves shot through me.

God. This was probably such a horrendous idea. I was just full of them lately.

Finally, I peeked behind a bush, staring into a small circular glade. As I pushed aside the colored tree branches of autumn and stepped into the clearing, I saw a sight that never failed to steal my breath. It was just as mesmerizing as the first time I’d seen it. White pillar candles were lit around a circle of stones, which I knew had been lit by Olivia. She could make anything go up in flames, including her hair in the fourth grade. If I concentrated I could still smell her charred hair. It was nasty, but tonight the air was infused with lavender, rosemary, and other herbs. Sweet, like homecoming.

The moon’s glow bathed over my skin as I gathered the last of my courage and stepped farther into the clearing, leaves crunching underfoot. There were voices coming from just outside the circle, and I could make out four shadows from the moonlight. I gulped.

They were all here. And I made five.

At the sound of my footsteps, heads whipped in my direction. A branch snapped as I stopped, afraid to go any farther. There was a moment of dead silence. Not even the woods around us spoke, and I waited, teetering on their decision. I should have known the quick-tongued Elena would be the first to speak. She had something to say about everything.

“What is
she
doing here?” Elena spat. Her short and sassy midnight hair was streaked with bright purple strands. In all black, with bold red lips and pale skin, she looked like a vampire.

I hadn’t expected a warm welcome, but I also hadn’t expected such contempt. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her to kiss my ass and storm back the way I had come.

Elena and I didn’t have a stellar past. I think out of everyone in the circle, my departure hit her the hardest. While the others might have understood my need to try and be normal, Elena never would.

She took magic very serious. My rejection of my gift was in her eyes worse than kicking a puppy. She never could comprehend that I might see my powers as more of a hindrance.

I also believe a part of her had been jealous of my relationship with Seth. Even at a young age, we had this unspoken bond. I think Elena had been bitter that Seth and my connection went deeper than just the circle.

We never really talked about it. It was just there, a spark between us, but now, I wondered if it was something more… Maybe if I hadn’t run off, Seth and I would be different, maybe I would be happy.

Luckily Olivia saved Elena from my backlash. Typical.

“Elena!” Olivia hissed. The soft glow of candlelight bounced off her glossy dark red hair. Out of all of us, Olivia looked the most like a fae. She had the dainty features of a pixie faerie with a cute button nose, a petite frame, and the brightest violet eyes.

I stood still, nibbling on my lip, seeing what they would say or do next. I hadn’t ruled out my “aborting mission” option just yet.

Zeke was the first to move. He gave me a devilish grin and then embraced me in a bear hug, lifting me off my feet. “Christ, Katia. It’s been a long time.” His voice had a sparkle of mischief in it and genuine glee.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, squeezing my eyes shut, and held on. “I’m glad someone is happy to see me,” I murmured. A feeling of relief spiraled through me. I wasn’t being burned at the stake…yet.

“Always, Katia.” He set me on my feet, and I couldn’t stop smiling. His summer-blue eyes were full of humor. “You’re one of us.” Zeke was always so easygoing, easy to forgive.

Olivia took his place the second he released me. “We missed you,” she said, her quiet voice filled with emotion.

“Me too,” I replied, my eyes misting with hers.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve, smiling. And just like that I felt something click inside me. This was what I had been looking for. The same thing I had run from in my youth was the one thing I needed. Being with others who embraced our gifts made more sense than anything else right now in my life.

“I can’t believe you are guys are just welcoming her with open arms. Um, hello. She left the circle. Why does she just get to stroll back because she is bored?” Elena’s expression was darkened with outraged and eyeliner. She stepped forward from the shadows.

I took a deep breath. I’d known that not everyone would be openhearted.

“Cut it out, Elena,” Zeke replied, slicing Elena with a look of warning.

Elena stabbed me with hateful daggers. “She is the biggest joke.”

I bit my lip and returned her glare with one of my own. I could only take so much.

This time is was Seth who spoke. He had been absolutely quiet since I had stepped through the clearing, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t felt his eyes one me. “Knock it off, Elena. Kats has every right to be here—as much as we do.”

She glanced at Seth who had stepped beside her. “You guys sicken me. I can’t believe you.”

“Give it up, Elena. We don’t want to spend the whole night listening to another one of your bitchy rants,” Zeke cut in before Elena could continue in a full-blown tantrum. She was prone to them when she didn’t get her way. Some things never changed.

I met Seth’s eyes and the world stood still. I hadn’t known what to expect or how I would feel when I saw him again. We hadn’t exactly been on the greatest of terms the last week, so I figured it was going to be awkward to the tenth power.

I was right.

“Hey,” I said, unable to think of anything intelligent or sarcastically witty.

“Hey,” he replied. The sound of his voice squeezed my heart.

Why does
he
have to be the guy that made me feel lightheaded? Why did it have to be Seth who made my breath catch? Why was it when I looked at him, the rest of the universe disappeared?

Even when I probably should have been miffed and irritated with him, I couldn’t be. There was something about Seth that made me want to ignore his less than stellar qualities. Like that he could be a little rough around the edges. He might have a quick temper, a protective streak a mile long, and he could be an insensitive jerk, but under all those jagged edges, there was a guy with a huge heart. And even with his flaws laid out on the table, I knew that I didn’t just want to be friends with Seth.

Shit. I was in so much trouble. My heart was in so much trouble.

I couldn’t figure out why it took me so long to realize that what I wanted was him. I wanted Seth.

With our gazes still locked and my heart pounding in my ears, I found myself lost inside eyes like the rolling plains of Ireland. It felt like he could see inside my soul. As if he knew what I had just come to understand. His eyes warmed the same time my body flushed.

“I can’t believe we are all here again,” Olivia squealed excitedly, snapping me back from la-la land. “I am so glad you came.” She grabbed my hand in hers and pulled me to the circle.

Elena stuck her finger in her mouth, making gagging noises.

Everyone ignored her.

We all sat around the circle, candles lighting our faces. Seth and Elena sat on the opposite end, obviously to put as much space as necessary between them and me. I tried not to show the irritation I felt. There was this absurd voice inside me that wanted to stomp across the circle and claim my stake on him. I didn’t want another girl near him.

What the flip is wrong with me?

Instead I folded my hands in my lap and clenched my jaw.

Elena sat practically on top of Seth, and she was constantly finding ways to touch him. I ground my teeth and seethed. It was pitiful how evident she made her desire for Seth. I couldn’t decide if she was turning up the flirting because of me or if she was just that much of a skank. I had an inkling she was just a skank. But if she put her hand on him one more time…

My eyes narrowed as her black painted nails rested on his shoulder.

I wanted to puke. I wanted to gouge her eyes out.

Glancing at his face, he didn’t seem to care what Elena was doing or saying. He was far too busy staring at me. A shudder ran through me. I couldn’t look away if I tried.

“Seth!” Elena shouted, and we both dropped our gazes as if we’d been caught stealing from the cookie jar.

He wrestled a hand through his dark hair, and Elena pressed her leg against his. I tried not to let my irritation show. If I ever needed a poker face, it was now.

“So what should we do?” Olivia asked the group after we all were seated.

“I think we should do something special—you know, now that Katia is back,” Zeke replied, smiling beside me. I grinned back.

“I got it.” Olivia all but jumped up. “This is our last All Hallows’ Eve before we go off to college. Let’s do a starsoul spell. I’ve always wondered if my true love is out there.” She got all dewy-eyed, fluttering her long lashes.

Seth’s eyes slammed into mine. “No,” he quickly shut her down.

“I think it is a great idea,” Elena purred, completely disregarding him. Her leg was basically in Seth’s lap now, and she gave him a pointed look. If she kept looking at him like that, I was going to blind her.

“Come on, guys,” Olivia encouraged. “It will be a fun. Haven’t you ever been curious if you’ve met your soul mate?”

Maybe it was more a girl thing, kind of like planning your wedding, something little girls dreamed of. I wasn’t sure guys were wired the same way.

“Olivia, you know that spell is inaccurate. It only works if you have had some form of contact with the person,” Seth argued, clearly against the idea.

She shrugged, not deterred. “I know, but it’s worth a shot. And so what if it doesn’t work? No harm done. We will be left to still wonder if they are out there.”

“Hell, why not?” Zeke replied. “What else do we have to do tonight?” He gave me a sideways half-smile.

“I can think of plenty,” Seth grumbled.

Zeke eyed Seth across the circle. “What’s the big deal, Seth? Afraid of what you’ll see?” he asked, arching a brow at his best friend. There was a glint of challenge in his eyes.

Something was definitely going on between those two. I glanced between them, wondering what was going through their heads.

Seth folded his arms. “Whatever. Fine. If this is what you guys want…” He stretched out his long legs, appearing blasé, but the tightening of his jaw said otherwise.

“Well, I vote yes just because Seth doesn’t want to do it.” I gave him a glaring-smirk.

Zeke chuckled beside me.

“I’d be careful what you ask for,” Seth warned, his eyes sharpening.

My mouth thinned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. Let’s just get this over with.”

If I wasn’t mistaken, Seth was uneasy. There was something he was hiding, and this spell was making him edgy. Maybe he already knew who his starsoul was. The thought made my gut twist. It was bad enough that he had Elena stuck to him.

Biting my tongue, I decided to suck up my irritation and try to have fun for Olivia’s sake. Maybe it hadn’t been a great idea to force my way back into the circle. Being this close to Seth was driving me bonkers.

I ripped my gaze from his. If it took all the strength I had inside me, I was going to avoid being caught by those startling green eyes. Instead, I concentrated on centering my energy and feeling the burn of power trickle in my veins.

There was magick in this place. I could feel it seeping from the ground, swirling in the air, and vibrating from the tree roots. As the five of us joined hands, sparks ignited on contact. It was a thrill feeling our magick flow from one another. Together we had more power and control. Together we were united.